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pi-mono/packages/coding-agent/docs/interactive-use.md
Christian Klotz e94d128f11
docs(coding-agent): restructure guides and references
2026-09-10 15:41:03 +02:00

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Pi in the Terminal

Interactive mode lets you prompt Pi, follow its tool calls, and change direction while it works. Start it from the project you want Pi to use:

cd /path/to/project
pi

The working directory determines which project configuration and context Pi discovers. Pi may ask you to trust project-local resources before loading them. See Security.

Read the interface

Pi interactive mode showing a conversation, editor, and status information

The interface has four main areas:

  • The startup header lists loaded context files and resources.
  • The transcript contains messages, tool calls, results, notifications, and errors.
  • The editor accepts prompts and commands. Its border indicates the current thinking level.
  • The footer shows the working directory, session, context usage, model, and accumulated usage and cost.

Press Ctrl+O to expand or collapse tool output. Press Ctrl+T to expand or collapse thinking blocks. Use /hotkeys to inspect the active shortcuts.

Add input and context

Type @ to search for a project file and add it to your message. Tab completes paths. You can also paste images or drag them into a compatible terminal.

Use Shift+Enter for a new line. Press Ctrl+G to edit a longer prompt in the configured external editor.

Prefix a command with ! to run it and include its output in the conversation. Use !! when you want to run the command without sending its output to the model.

Direct a running task

You do not need to wait for the current response to finish:

  • Press Enter to queue a steering message. Pi delivers it after the current assistant turn and its tool calls finish.
  • Press Alt+Enter to queue a follow-up. Pi delivers it after the current run settles.
  • Press Alt+Up to return queued messages to the editor.
  • Press Escape to abort the current run and return queued messages to the editor.

Windows Terminal reserves some Alt shortcuts. See Terminal Setup for platform-specific alternatives.

Use commands

Type / to search available commands. Pi includes commands for models, sessions, settings, credentials, exports, and resource management. Extensions, skills, and prompt templates can add more.

The main paths from interactive mode are:

  • /model and /thinking change the current model behavior. See Models and Providers.
  • /resume, /tree, /fork, and /compact manage conversation history. See Sessions and Context.
  • /settings changes common preferences. See Configuration.
  • /reload reloads extensions, skills, prompt templates, themes, keybindings, and context files.

See CLI and Modes for the complete command-line and slash-command reference.

Copy and export results

Press Ctrl+X to copy the last assistant response. In the tree view it copies the selected message. In fullscreen mode, it copies the active text selection when automatic copy-on-select is disabled.

Use /export to write the session as HTML or JSONL. Use /share to publish a private GitHub gist with a shareable viewer link. Review the session before sharing because it can contain prompts, tool output, file contents, and credentials exposed during the conversation.

Choose a transcript mode

Regular mode uses the terminal's normal scrollback. Fullscreen mode keeps the editor and status area fixed while the transcript scrolls inside the terminal viewport.

Set the mode through /settings or --tui-mode. Terminal support for mouse input, keyboard shortcuts, and inline images varies. See Terminal Setup before changing terminal-specific settings.

For every configurable shortcut, see Keybindings.